Mean Green Defense Tops List Of Worries

MeanGreen61 · October 2, 2007

Football: Mean Green defense tops list of worries

08:14 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 2, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas head coach Todd Dodge has plenty to worry about heading into his fifth game with the Mean Green.

Dodge’s team is winless, ranked last nationally both in scoring defense and total defense and has its fourth road game this season looming Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Those concerns are more important than all others, including whether UNT is losing some of the momentum it had coming into the season due to its poor start.

“I don’t worry about that at all,” Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt’s coaches’ conference call. “We have to continue to improve. … All I can control is our football team. We are still together.”

UNT came into the season with high expectations after Dodge arrived in Denton fresh off winning four state titles in his last five seasons at Southlake Carroll.

The Mean Green has struggled to meet those expectations early on. Arkansas hammered UNT 66-7 on Saturday, marking the second time the Mean Green has been blown out in a nonconference game this season.

Oklahoma drubbed UNT 79-10 in its season opener.

Those lopsided losses are big reasons the Mean Green ranks last nationally both in scoring defense (55.0 points allowed per game) and total defense (580.3 yards allowed a game).

UNT will look to break out of its season-long slump against ULL, which has also struggled. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 0-5 on the year. UNT and ULL are two of four winless teams in the Sun Belt.

“The only reason this is an important game is because it is our next game,” Dodge said. “We can get to 1-1 and still have an opportunity to meet our goals. Our focus is to win this week.”

The Sun Belt is in its seventh season and has produced a champion with two losses only once. Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe finished in a tie for the title at 5-2 in the 2005 season.

“As long as you have one loss, you are still in it,” Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. “Having two losses might put you out because there are some really good teams in the conference this year.”

Florida Atlantic and Troy are sitting atop the conference standings at 2-0, while Arkansas State has yet to open league play. MTSU is 1-1 on the year, while the remaining teams in the league are all 0-1.

Fenroy will be back this weekend

UL-Lafayette will get a big boost for Saturday’s game against UNT with the return of running back Tyrell Fenroy.

Fenroy missed last week’s loss to Central Florida and had just one carry the previous week against Troy because of a sprained ankle. The junior rushed for at least 80 yards in each of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first three games, including a 136-yard night against Ohio.

Fenroy was a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection and has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his previous two campaigns.

“Tyrell will be back this weekend,” ULL head coach Rickey Bustle said. “We held him out last weekend to try to get him well.”

UNT held Fenroy in check last season, limiting him to 60 yards on 15 carries. The Mean Green beat the Ragin’ Cajuns last season for one of its three wins on the year.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .

NCMeanGreen · October 2, 2007

"I don't worry about that at all," Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt's coaches' conference call. "We have to continue to improve. … All I can control is our football team. We are still together."

Honestly, I heard TD say that last night during the TD Show...and it worried me then as it does now. How can he NOT be worried about that???? History and example shows that extended losses (and this ugly type of losing) has a negatice effect on a program. That is the reality...losing certainly does not help a program.

I also read another thread where someone compared us to the K-State situation. And, yes, WINNING helps a program. (No, I am not trying to be "Captain Obvious" here...)

So, while I think he may be trying to say he has a hand at what happens on the field and with his football team...he would be remiss to suggest that this does not worry him at all.

I get it...I do realize he is trying to stay strong for the team...leading by example and all...and yes I do appreciate that (to an extent). BUT...that will mean nothing if we only win 2-3 football games over this season and next...

Quoner · October 2, 2007

Honestly, I heard TD say that last night during the TD Show...and it worried me then as it does now. How can he NOT be worried about that???? History and example shows that extended losses (and this ugly type of losing) has a negatice effect on a program. That is the reality...losing certainly does not help a program.
I also read another thread where someone compared us to the K-State situation. And, yes, WINNING helps a program. (No, I am not trying to be "Captain Obvious" here...)
So, while I think he may be trying to say he has a hand at what happens on the field and with his football team...he would be remiss to suggest that this does not worry him at all.
I get it...I do realize he is trying to stay strong for the team...leading by example and all...and yes I do appreciate that (to an extent). BUT...that will mean nothing if we only win 2-3 football games over this season and next...

"O f***, the D is taking on water and I am at a G** D*** loss on how to fix it!" - Todd Dodge

Would that make you feel better?